DPA New Zealand

DPA Bites December 2005

2006 - coming, ready or not.

Where did 2005 go? For DPA, it's passed in a whirlwind of pre- and post-election action, regional forums and hui, and Assembly and AGM preparation and follow-up.

In this issue of DPA Bites, you'll find the report of the National Assembly and AGM. It was a great combination of smooth running, agreeable venue, really nice food, good debate and great weather - with a little help from some accessible artists.

The coming year is looming as another busy one. We look forward to working with the new Government, the 'old' Minister for Disability Issues, the final passage of some important legislation and the review of the NZ Disability Strategy. Not to mention accessibility, mobility, and internationally another push on the UN Convention.

The team at the DPA National Secretariat - Lorraine, Wendi, Robert and I - thank you for your on-going support. We hope you have a great Christmas and a restful New Year break, and we look forward to working with you in the next 12 months.

Gary Williams

National AGM business

People

Life memberships were conferred on Anne Hawker and Marion Wellington. Anne has been involved at all levels of DPA since 1984, including President of the Assembly, and representing New Zealand at Rehabilitation International (RI) meetings from the 1990s until now. In 1996 she chaired the RI World Congress in Auckland.

When the call went out, Marion Wellington received several nominations for Life Membership. She was President of Taranaki DPA for many years and is currently Secretary, organised the 1998 National Conference in New Plymouth and is currently coordinator of Total Mobility Taranaki, as well as National Vice-President of DPA.

A short silence was observed following the announcement of Lesley Tyzack's death the day before Assembly.

Officers

Mike Gourley and Marion Wellington were re-elected President and Vice-President unopposed.

The following were elected to fill the five vacancies on the Executive: David Corner, David Tamatea, Beverley Grammar, Wendy Neilson and Brendon Murray.

Guest speaker

The Hon Ruth Dyson, Minister for Disability Issues, was the keynote speaker at the Assembly. She began by reviewing political action in recent months.

'The election was more than just about who gets to be the next Government,' she said. 'The comments about 'mainstream society' and 'political correctness' were actually a challenge to the inclusive principles on which community is based.'

She referred to the 'obvious anomaly' between those disabled people funded by ACC and those who received Income Support benefits, and said she was determined to make further progress to resolve the situation. The key issue, she said, was access to rehabilitation and removing the focus on impairment.

Key policy priorities for the incoming Government were those outlined in the Labour manifesto - transport, housing/building access, public awareness and information, education and employment. 'The Building Act review has been completed,' she said, 'and the consequent work on the Building Code is now under way.

'More has to be done in the training of teachers in inclusive education, but our funding framework is not flexible enough to respond to students' diverse needs. A Code of Practice for tertiary institutions has been developed.

'Public education - attitude changing - was identified as the number one area of concern during the preparation of the disability strategy. Attitudes in New Zealand are changing, but there is more to be done. The success of the Like Minds, Like Mine campaign in dispelling myths about people with mental illness has taught us a lot about how to change community attitudes. Work is underway to find ways to further build on the achievements of that campaign.'

Responses from the floor following the Minister's address picked up on the need for better representation of people with disabilities on public bodies and the need for capacity-building of disability organisations. Another question concerned the boundaries between younger disability services and aged care. Minister Dyson noted two problems in this area. One is the classification of some conditions (such as stroke) as being age-related even when they occur in people younger than 65, and she described the bridging process as 'messy'. The other problem is services funded by the Disability Services Directorate that should by rights be paid from Public Health funding. 'Any examples you have of boundary problems, in access to services, equipment and rehabilitation, please tell me,' said Ms Dyson. 'I want to know about individual cases.'

The Minister's speech notes are available at the DPA National Secretariat.

AGM decisions

The Assembly:

Disability Services

DPA believes that every person with a disability, and every family which includes a member with a disability, should receive whatever services and other support or assistance which may be needed to reduce the disabling effects of impairment and the handicapping effects of disability. Services should be designed to make possible for each person a full, meaningful and constructive life of their own choosing.

An Interview with Geraldine Woods

Geraldine's title is Deputy Director General Disability Services Directorate, and she is one of seven Deputy Directors General in the Ministry of Health. She talked to Julia Stuart about her first seven months in the job.

Q. Just who is covered by your directorate?

GW: Younger people with disabilities, excluding ACC and mental health and covering those with a life-time disability as opposed to an age-related disability. There's a bit of fluffiness around some of those boundaries, but it gives you a sense of the population. So we provide services for younger people with intellectual disability, some physical disability, sensory disability - hearing, visual. We provide some support - and the degrees are highly variable - for about 30,000 people. We don't have particularly good information and that's one of the things I'm concerned about, because it makes it very hard for me to do any future planning.

Q: What involvement do you have in treatment services?

GW: In the main we provide support services but sometimes those edge into a bit of therapy - really that should be a District Health Board (DHB) responsibility. Our patch is support around personal care, but there are some boundary issues around physiotherapy and vocational services and between community participation and day services.

Q: How do you get a consumer perspective?

GW: It's a bit patchy at the moment, and we're actively trying to improve both whether it's happening and what notice is taken of it. Some of the issues facing people with disabilities are so big we're not quite sure how to deal with them.

When I first came into the Ministry I asked 'where is the policy around my bit of the world?' and a lot of it is steeped in history and transition from welfare to health and then Regional Health Authorities and Transitional Health Authority and Health Funding Agency. We've been in an environment where every couple of years something significant happens. For example, two years ago the health of older people went to the DHBs, so there's been this level of instability about trying to pin down things.

My particular area is 'home life'. I've picked up on To Have an Ordinary Life and I think it's about having an ordinary home life. That's fits into the New Zealand Disability Strategy (NZDS) around living at home … and being able to access the wider community, get to the library, the shops and all those things. I want to make sure that we minimise any falling through the cracks.

I'm not trying to do everything because there's a whole lot of other agencies trying to do things as well such as Ministry of Social Development in terms of welfare and employment, and the Ministry of Education.

Q: So what are your priorities?

GW: One is trying to get much better information about the services, the numbers, types of services etc. that we currently provide. There's real concern about the amount of spending going on those - the unit cost per person per hour of service in home-based support, where support worker turnover is high and wages are a key problem. The other cost concern area is residential care. There was a six per cent increase in funding for these at the beginning of 2005, and there is more available, particularly to make sure that travel costs are at least partly covered. Work on a fair travel policy which can cover the varied needs of workers in Central Otago and urban Auckland is currently under way.

Another area is the sustainability of services. A sector-based working party last year identified that the sector was seriously underfunded, and we hope for a progress report before the end of the year.

Q: What about the shortage of workers?

GW: Workforce development includes, as one starting point, the home-based support area. There are already full and part-qualifications in the Qualifications framework, with assessment standards and providers in that area. We need to identify what extra investment is needed and how to encourage employers and employees to undertake training, without being too invasive for the clients. We need to make sure we're aligned with the Tertiary Education Commission and Industry Training Organisation systems so we know what's happening where.

We also need to be smarter about recruitment and the way we provide support, which isn't just about paying more. Right now unemployment is so low… Money is a driver but I think there's more to that than just that. Having a good training and career development structure might be a way of getting some people back into the workforce or as a starting job, but there could be a form of career through the system.

It's not about building a new infrastructure but adding to what's already being done, and where there's gaps invest in filling those, and in the meantime put people through that training.

DPA rejects Consumer Consortium

DPA has declined the Ministry of Health's invitation to be part of their Consumer Consortium, a newly established group to give advice to the Disability Services Directorate.

"It was impossible for us to see how we could add any value to the Consortium,' says DPA CEO Gary Williams. 'We already have an existing relationship with the Ministry and we shouldn't be using scarce resources to just repeat ourselves.'

"We are also very concerned about legitimizing the practice of diluting the voice of disabled people and their families, by including other interests in a supposed "consumer" advisory group.'

DPA accepts that by not having a presence, the Consortium will not be informed by our world view. Despite this, however, any recommendations made would need to be agreed to by us because we are the only pan-disabled peoples group in New Zealand.

Inequitable Access to Rehabilitation Services

Disabled New Zealanders are not getting equal access to rehabilitation services, New Zealand Rehabilitation Association president Dr Samir Anwar said in early November.

"It seems unfair that disabled people, with a similar level of disability, get a better deal if they are covered by ACC rather than funded by the Ministry of Health's Disability Support Services.

"There appears to be a multi-tiered system of rehab service delivery to people with disabilities in New Zealand, and this has led to a lack of equity in the provision of rehabilitation."

There was a perception that the services offered through ACC were superior to those offered by the ministry, he said.

"There seems to be easier access to therapy, more availability of funding for equipment, for house modifications, for community support systems etc," he told NZPA.

Dr Anwar said even within ministry funded clients there were disparities and inequities, with those funded through health services for the elderly better streamlined than those under 65.

"We have great problems getting funding approval for those clients, in terms of the community support systems that they need," he said.

Lester Mundell, the Health Ministry's chief advisor Disability Services, said it was correct that there was a multi-tiered system.

"The systems that fund rehabilitation are different," he said.

"ACC is an insurance system that has an entitlement basis, and is focused on recovery and rehabilitation. Disability Support Services funding allocated through the health system is based on assessed individual need and has to manage within a fixed budget."

(from www.stuff.co.nz 14 November 2005)

Legislation

DPA believes that there is a strong and continuing obligation on Government to provide appropriate and enforceable legislation to advance the rights, opportunities and participation of people with disabilities in our New Zealand society.

Two key pieces of legislation held over from the last Government are back on the agenda. The second reading of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and related matters) Bill is quite high on the current Order Paper. DPA is planning a coordinated approach to encourage its passing, with a Question & Answer sheet about the reasons for the Bill and tips on lobbying.

The second reading of the less contentious NZ Sign Language Bill is just a little lower on the Order Paper, and if passed in time will come into force on 1 March 2006.

At the recent opening of Parliament, the Government announced that "During this term further action will be taken to encourage and support those on Sickness and Invalids Benefits to participate in the workforce. Further development will also be undertaken on the evolution of the new benefit structure focused on providing work opportunities for all New Zealanders."

International Relations

DPA believes that it has a responsibility to participate in the international community on behalf of New Zealanders who have disabilities to ensure involvement in sharing of new developments and to promote its aims.

UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities

The drafting might be completed next year but there are outstanding issues such as indigenous people, the definition of "disability" and the push for an article on rehabilitation, Gary Williams reports after sitting through four drafting sessions and more than 200 hours of debate and discussion.

'If any country should be promoting the rights for indigenous disabled people it's New Zealand,' he said in his report-back in September. 'The convention should explicitly mention disabled people who are multiply-disadvantaged.'

On the other hand, Gary does not believe the convention should have a definition for disability; disabled people and the world generally are divided on this and a definition may end up excluding some people - all the proposed definitions he has seen will disadvantage somebody. Also the Convention must stand the test of time so words we use today should not restrict future generations to the here and now.

DPA also opposes an article on rehabilitation. Our concerns with a draft article being circulated are the assumption that rehabilitation is a 'right' - but the UN does not want to create new rights for disabled people that they do not currently have under existing conventions.

There is a risk of entrenching current concepts for future generations, and an approach which wants to fix the individual instead of society.

'The development of the convention is based on the social model of disability whereby there is a need to change societal structures to enable disabled people to realise their rights,' he says.

'We don't want to create a situation where disabled people are overwhelmed by professionals. In New Zealand, we already have that happening with Needs Assessors, Service Co-ordinators, Case Managers, therapists for everything etc.

With economies of scale, we may end up reinforcing institutionalisation of disabled people, so that (for instance) vocational rehabilitation might take place in a sheltered workshop, health rehabilitation might take place in a hospital, and educational rehabilitation might take place in a special school.

Surely, this is just a way to ensure institutions for disabled people will remain as credible options.'

The next meeting for the Convention drafting committee will be held this coming January.

Partnerships

DPA recognises that disability issues do affect Maori, and that solutions need to reflect their cultural diversity.

DPA National Vice-President, Marion Wellington, reports:

"In July I attended the Hui at Stratford for Maori and their Whanau, with Gary Williams and Lorraine Dick. This was an opportunity for Maori whose family members have disabilities to have a voice and air their views. The theme for the day was Relationship Building - about 20 service providers and disability organisations introduced themselves speaking of their services within the Taranaki Region. Some had displays around the walls and many had leaflets and brochures to hand out. They included the Taranaki Arthritis Foundation, the Meningococcal prevention group, etc.

The Hui was well attended with people from all areas of Taranaki. A very popular feature was the lucky number prizes of beautiful herb gardens promoting healthy eating.

Guest speakers were Roger Jolley from the Disability Services Directorate and Gary, with the Hui well facilitated by Matiu Julian of Tui Ora. (Tui Ora is the umbrella group for 23 provider organisations of six of the eight Taranaki Iwi.)

Roger spoke of his work, his concerns regarding issues for Maori families, and that his funding may be able to assist towards further information sharing Hui such as this one.

Gary explained the benefits of belonging to an organisation such as DPA and how collectively we can effect change. "

Transport

DPA believes that transport is a basic right of all people. Recognising this, government must ensure that all forms of transport and its infrastructure, both in the community and nationally, must be fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Air New Zealand - the continuing story…

While Air New Zealand has invested in lifting equipment for disabled people traveling on some aircraft from some airports, DPA plans to continue the battle. 'We are going to pursue our complaint,' says DPA CEO Gary Williams. 'Until such time as all disabled people can travel on the airline without being discriminated against, our complaint stands.'

There is also a bigger issue, he notes. 'This situation has occurred because Air NZ believe that no one is allowed to lift another person (over 16kg).

'Using their logic, then

'I'm sure this wasn't intended by the lawmakers. My personal preference would be to amend the legislation that allows this farcical misinterpretation .'

The Accessible Journey

Significant numbers of New Zealanders with disabilities have 'acute and on-going' difficulties using public land transport, and the demand for accessible services will increase as the population ages. This is the major finding of The Accessible Journey, a Human Rights Commission report based on a two-and-a-half-year study.

The barriers to the accessible journey are nothing new - lack of information about services, difficulties in arranging a service, getting from home to the pick-up point, using the service and returning home. Comprehensive disability awareness and competence training would result in a more accessible ride for everybody, the report says. There should also be 'mandatory accessibility design standards for service information, conveyances, premises and infrastructure' so people with disabilities can experience certainty, consistency and compatibility wherever they are in the country.

The HRC report also confirms what people with disabilities have felt for years - that their needs are not considered to be a core requirement in the current planning, consultation and law-making processes. However, the report notes that 'increasingly, disabled people are prepared to challenge discriminatory aspects of the public transport system.'

The Report recommends:

'The report vindicates disabled people's claims of discrimination in public transport,' said DPA President Mike Gourley. 'The recommendations should be actioned immediately.

'We are buoyed up by the fact that there appears to be buy-in from transport providers to supplement the implementation of the recommendations.'

Total Mobility

After a series of reviews beginning in 2002 and a consultation programme in April and May this year, the Ministry of Transport released the final report, plus a four-stage recommended implementation process, at the end of August 2005.

Along with the release was an announcement of a $9.49 million funding boost, aimed at increasing the number of users from the present 43,000 to 69,000 over the next three years.

Local authorities have been given a year to increase their fare subsidy level from 40 to 50 percent, and then lift it to 60 percent beginning July 2006.

All regional councils and local bodies, Land Transport officials, the Taxi Federation and the Human Rights Commission were told about the improvements in October, and a Fact Sheet for them is currently being prepared.

Apart from the extra funding, the main changes are:

Next year, phase 2 kicks in from July 2006. Under this, town boundary restrictions will be removed and replaced by a maximum subsidised fare set by local authorities. Training, best practice guidelines are developed, maxi-taxis will get extra flat fee payments, and voluntary disability agencies will be able to assess potential members of the scheme in every area.